Outboard motor carrier



Nov. 5, 1957 P. PINI-:lDr-:R 2,811,942

oUTBoARD MoToR CARRIER Filed May 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l FfGf l FIG/f 2 INVTOR.

5 nzl Hkzezder BY .zlorncgs Nov. 5, 1957 P. PlNElDl-:R

l oUTBoARD MOTOR CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1955 r w RC mmf/H if am@ WM United States Patent OUTBOARD MOTOR CARRIER Paul Pineider, Chicago, Ill., assignor to South Bend Tackle dC ompany, Inc., South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Inlana Application May 9, 1955, Serial No. 507,007

Claims. (Cl. 11S-17) This invention relates in general to outboard motor carriers, and more particularly to an improved carrier for transporting a detached outboard motor with the greatest possible ease and convenience, as between boat and automobile, boat house, residence, or the like.

As is well-known, the present day outboard motor has been so increased in size and weight as to make an arduous task of moving it to and from the boat with which it is used.

A principal object of this invention, therefore, is lthe provision of a simple, inexpensive wheeled carrier for supporting an outboard motor substantially vertically, either in traveling position or a position of rest, which may most conveniently and quickly be mounted on or secured to the motor adjacent the lower end thereof and removed therefrom, and which is readily separable into small components to facilitate its storage and packaging for shipment in a container of extremely small size.

By providing such an outboard motor carrier, the carrying handle customarily incorporated in the modern outboard motor may be employed for balancing the motor in traveling position and imparting transporting movement thereto, which eliminates the necessity for handle and supporting frame means of objectionable length.

Another important object of the invention is to insure against damage to the motor in the attachment of such a carrier thereto and to facilitate such attachment by providing a carrier which is made up of complementally shaped brackets for embraceably engaging a portion of the motor, preferably between the usual cavitation plate and water pump housing, with wheel means secured to the brackets, and means for readily detachably clamping the brackets together to rigidly mount the same in such manner on the motor.

With such an arrangement, the carrier is comprised primarily of two relatively small separate portions so that, with the motor resting in a horizontal position, for example, the operator may attach the carrier thereto merely by grasping one of such portions in each hand, moving the brackets into engagement and embracing relationship with the lower portion of the motor, and snapping the clamping means into position for securing the brackets together.

Another object of the invention is to enable the carrier to support an outboard motor in a substantially vertical position of rest, which is accomplished by providing a novel member removably attachable to the motor to cooperate with the carrier wheel means to provide a tripod support.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, disclose a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an outboard motor mounted upon a' carrier embodying the features of 2,811,942 Patented-Nov. 5, 1957 ICC the present invention, with the speed control and steering handle of the motor shown in a raised position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, as seen from the left of Fig. l, with the speed control and steering handle of the motor removed therefrom for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation similar to Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale, and showing the main portion of an outboard motor carrier embodying the instant invention as mounted upon the lower portion of a motor;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the rod employed as a rest support for the motor;

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on an enlarged scale and taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectionalview taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section taken substantiallyv on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one part of a togglehaust stack 15. This motor 11 also is provided with av forwardly extending and substantially horizontally disposed carrying handle 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to the main housing of the motor in any suitable manner above the usual bracket 17 employed for mounting the motor on a boat, and the regular speed control and steering handle 20 which, as noted above, -is omitted from Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity.

The illustrated embodiment of the instant carrier for the outboard motor 11 comprises a pair of shafts 18 terminating at their lower ends (Fig. l) in outwardly disposed bearing portions for rotatably mounted groundengaging means in the form of Wheels 19. Each wheel 19 is removably mounted on its shaft 18, preferably by means of suitable washers disposed at each side of the wheel and retained in position by cotter pins 21 extending through vertical apertures provided in the outer end portions of the shafts. It will be understood, of course, that dual wheels may be provided on each of the shafts 18 for the larger and heavier models of outboard motors.

The upper end of each of the shafts 18 extends inwardly substantially parallel to its lower wheel supporting end and into a horizontally disposed bore 22 (Fig. 7) in a bracket indicated generally by reference numeral 23. The upper part of the angularly disposed portion of the shaft 18 is embraced by a vertical recess 24 in a hub portion 25 of its associated bracket 23 (Fig. 3), which recess 24 terminates at its upper end in intersecting relationship with the outer end of the bore 22. The shaft 1S which thus is rigidly retained against swinging or substantially vertical movement relative to its associated bracket 23 is maintained in such interengaging relationship with the bracket by a pin 26 (Fig. 5) preferably driven downwardly through suitable apertures provided in the hub portion 25 of the bracket and the upper, inner end of the shaft.

As best seen in Figs. 3 and 5-7, the two brackets 23 are complementally shaped relative to each other for ernbraceably engaging the housing of the motor 11 between the cavitation plate 12 and the water pump housing 14. At their forward ends, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the two brackets 23 are detachably secured together by a slotted typeof hinge construction comprising a hinge pin 27 suitably mounted in and extending vertically between extensions or legs 28 formed integrally with one of the brackets 23 andrspaced vertically from each other, and a curved hook extensionjor strap portion l29 formed on the forward end of the other bracket 23 which is4 embraceably engageablevwith the pin 27 in well-known manner. The rear end of eachof the brackets 2,3 is provided with an angularly disposed fiange portion 31 preferably flaring outwardly in a lateral direction and having an aperture 32 extending therethrough (Figs. 3 and 6). Suitable means are provided to prevent scratching or marring of the outer surface of the motor housing, which are illustrated herein as comprising rubber pads 33 which are secured in any desired manner to the inner surfaces of the lbrackets 23.

The rneans ,for detachbly securing the brackets 23 together in embracing engagement with the lower portion of the housing of motor 11 also includes a two-part, toggle-type clamp, indicated generally by reference numeral 34 (Figs; 3 and 6), and a flexible strap 35 detachably secured thereto and to one of the brackets 23 by suitable screw clamp 36. This clamp 36 performs the dual function of securing the strap 35 to and around the flange portion 31 of one of the brackets 23 and of providing for desired adjustments of the effective length of strap 35. The strap 35 passes through an opening or aperture 37 in a first part 38 (Fig. 8) of the toggle-type clamp 34,- and the inner. surface of this part 38 of the clamp 34 preferably is provided with pad means 39, of rubber or other suitable material, secured thereto in any desired manner for engagement with the motor housing to protect the latter against damage by the clamp. This first part 38 of the clamp 34 is provided at the end opposite its opening 37 with a pair of outwardly extending, apertured trunnion portions 41 which are spaced vertically from each other as best seen in Fig. 8. The clamp 34 also comprises a second part, indicated generally by reference Ynumeral 42 (Fig. 9)', which made up of a bail-type handle 43 having horizontally extendinglegs 44 spaced apart a greater distance than the vertical dimension of the first part38 and terminating atrtheir inner ends in vertically extending portions 45 which are pivotally mounted in and extend through the apertures of the trunnion portions 41 of the rst part 38'., A vertically extending rod 46 is securedv in any' suitable manner at its ends, ,as by welding to'` the legs in spaced relationship to the pivotal end" portions 45, and a tongue member, in the form of a plate 47, `terminates at its inner end in a strapv portion 4,8 which is bent around and rotatably mounted upon the rod 46. The outer end of the tongue member 47 terminates in a curved portion 49, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 6, which is engageable with the apertured end flange portion 31 of the other bracket 23.

The outboard motor carrier illustrated herein also includes ground-engaging means for forming a tripod support for the motor 11, in cooperation with the wheels 19, in the form of a rod 51 4(Figs.,2-4), the upper end of which is adapted to be inserted into the exhaust stack and preferably is provided with a suitable protective coating 52 of rubber, or the like. The lower end of the rod 51 is provided with suitable` ground-engagingl means, preferably in the form of a rubber foot piece 53. Intermediate its ends, a releasable clamp means in mountedV upon thej jacent the Vlower ends; of the curved' portions 56.' at op'-d posite sides of the rod. A rubber pad or foot member 58 preferably is mounted on the free end of each leg of the spring member 54, the curved portions 56 being so shaped in order for the feet 58 to engage with the outer surface of the exhaust stack 15 above the rear end of the cavitation plate 12, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, when the handle part 55 of the clamp is moved upwardly into embracing engagement with rod 51 with the latter inserted into the exhaust stack. v

As will readily be appreciated, the above-described outboard motor carrier may be made from any suitable material, with the bracket members 23 being aluminum, for example, and formed as castings, the shafts 18 and rod 51 being steel rods, and the wheels 19, whether single or double, preferably being rubber-tired. The present construction facilitates packaging for shipment and storage in an extremely small container, since the wheels 19 may readily be removed from and mounted upon the shafts 18, and the overall length of package required need not be larger than the diagonal length of the shafts 18.

After the wheels 19 have once been mounted upon their shafts 18, attachment of this outboard motor carrier to the motor may very readily be accomplished, especially with the motor disposed in a horizontal position resting on its upper gas tank housing and the rear end of the cavitation plate 12 with the carrying handle 16 extending upwardly, which is the normal position in which the motor is usually placed upon removal from the boat, trunk of an altomobile, or other location. Attachment of the carrier to the motor is accomplished merely by grasping each of the shafts 18 in one hand, placing the brackets 23 in the spaces at opposite sides of the motor between the cavitation plate 12 and water housing 14, engaging the forward end portions of the brackets with each other by slipping the strap portion 29 into embracing relationship with the hinge pin 27 as in Fig. 5, and then engaging the curved portion 49 of the clamp 34 around the free flange portion 31 and swinging the handle 43 to its locked or rearmost full line position of Fig. 6. As will be seen from this latter figure, with the plate 47 in its extended dotted line position 47a, by virtue of positioning of the handle 43 in its release or broken line position 43a, inward movement of the free end of the plate 47 into the associated aperture 32 is readily effected. Subsequent pivotal movement rearwardly of the handle 43 about its end portions 45 to the full line position of Fig. 6 carries the rod 46 from its outer, broken line position 46a to its full line position, wherein its vertical center line has been moved inwardly beyond a plane defined by the vertical center lines of the pivot portions 45 and the associated portion of the flange 31 embraced by the curved outer end 49 of the plate 47. In other words, such movement of the clamp 34 to operative or clamping position is a true toggle movement which insures firm embracing of the motor Vby the brackets 23 and effective locking of the clamp 34 inv such bracket retaining position. If the strap' 35 is not of the proper length tolefect the desired rigid' mounting of the brackets 23 on the motor, release of the clamp 34 and adjustment of the length of the strap 35 may readily be accomplished through the agency of the screw clamp 36. It will be apparent that this clamp 36 may consist merely of an inner plate mounting bolts extending outwardly adjacent the edges of the strap 35 and an outer plate slidable on the bolts and movable into clamping position by suitable wing nuts on the bolts. During such mounting of the brackets 23 on the motor, the resilient pads 33, 39 effectively prevent damaging of the motor housing surface.

p With the brackets 23 so mounted upon the motor, it is then a simple procedure to raise the upper endlof the motor into a substantially vertical position by means of the usual motor lifting handle 16, wherein it will be supportedbythe carrier in atraveli'n'g position, somewhat as illustrated int Figs. l and 2. While in such position,

the rod 551 may be attached to the motor merely by insert-- mg 1ts protected upper end 52 into the exhaust stack 1 5 and swinging the clamping member 54 from its broken line to its full line position of Fig. 3. It is preferred that the resulting engagement of the foot portions 58 of this clamp with the outer surface of the exhaust stack be relatively loose so that the portion of the weight of the motor subsequently supported by the rod 51 will -not be transmitted to the rod through the clamp member 54. Such relatively loose engagement is not objectionable, since the foot portions 58 will prevent the rod 51 from falling out of the exhaust stack 15 by engaging the upper end surface of the cavitation plate 12. As best seen in Fig. 2, when the retaining clamp 54 is in its operative position, the lower handle end 55 thereof frictionally engages the side surfaces of the rod 51 to retain the same therein. With the rod 51 so mounted, rearward swinging of the motor 11 from its vertical position of Fig. 2 through the aid of its handle 16 will result in the rod 51 engaging the ground or other supporting surface and thereafter cooperating with the wheels 19 to provide a tripod support for the motor.

As used herein, the word front refers to the mounting side of the motor, i. e., the side at which the mounting bracket 17 is loc-ated.

lIt is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A carrier for an outboard motor that has a carrying handle near its upper end at the front, a propeller near its lower end at the rear, and a cavitation plate and a water pump housing spaced vertically from each other adjacent its lower end; comprising a pair of brackets attachable to each other to embraceably engage the motor between said cavitation plate and said Water pump housing, means for detachably securing said brackets together to so mount the same on the motor, and groundengageable support means secured to each of said brackets and extending downwardly beyond the lower end of the motor and forwardly of the propeller when said brackets are so mounted thereon.

2. A carrier according to claim l, wherein each of said ground-engageable support means comprises a wheel detachably secured to its associated said bracket to support the motor in a substantially vertical traveling position for convenient manipulation by said handle.

3. iIn a carrier according to claim 2, a member removably attachable to the motor to extend rearwardly therefrom and cooperate with said support means to provide a tripod support for maintaining the motor in a rest position.

4. An outboard motor carrier for a motor having a handle near its upper end at the front and a propeller near its lower end at the re-ar, comprising a pair of shafts, a wheel rotatably mounted on one end of each said shaft, bracket means rigidly secured to the other end of said shaft, and means for detachably mounting said bracket means on an outboard motor to retain said wheels on opposite sides thereof below and forwardly of said propeller.

5. `In -a carrier for supporting an outboard motor, ground-engageable support means, brackets secured to said support means, and means for detachably securing said brackets to said motor, including a two-part, toggletype clamp, comprising a rst part secured to one of said brackets and having trunnion portions spaced from each other, and a second part comprising a bail-type handle having spaced legs terminating in end portions pivotally engaging said trunnion portions, a rod secured at its 6 ends to' said legs in spaced relation to said pivotal end portions, and a tongue member pivotally mounted at one end on said rod and having a curved free end engageable with the other of said brackets.

6. -In a carrier for supporting an outboard motor having an integrally disposed exhaust stack at its lower end either in a rest position or in a traveling position for transport over the ground, ground-engageable wheel means, brackets secured to said wheel means, means for detachably securing said brackets together to embracingly engage a portion of said motor to support the same in traveling position, resilient pad means mounted on said brackets for direct engagement between the latter and the motor, and means removably attachable to the motor to cooperate with said wheel means to provide a tripod support for the motor in a rest posit-ion, comprising a rod having an upper end coated with resilient material insertable into said exhaust stack, ground-engaging means mounted at the lower end of said rod, and releasable clamp means mounted on said rod intermediate its ends for engaging -a portion of the motor to retain the upper end of said rod in the exhaust stack when the motor is moved out of rest position.

7. A carrier for an outboard motor that has a cavitation plate and a water pump housing spaced vertic-ally from each other adjacent its lower end and an angularly disposed exhaust stack, comprising a pair of brackets attachable to each other to embraceably engage the motor between said cavitation plate zand said water pump housing, means for detachably securing said brackets together to so mount the same on the motor, groundengageable support means secured to each of said brackets and extending beyond the lower end of the motor when said brackets are so mounted thereon comprising a wheel detachably secured to its lassociated said bracket to support the motor in a substantially vertical traveling position, and a member removably attachable to the motor to cooperate with said support means to provide a tripod support for maintaining the motor in a rest position comprising a rod partly insertable at i-ts upper end into said exhaust stack, ground-engaging means at the lower end of said rod, and releasable means mounted on said `rod intermediate its ends for engaging over an end portion of said cavitation plate to retain the upper end of the rod in the exhaust stack when the motor is moved from rest to traveling position.

8. =In combination, an outboard motor having a normally substantially vertically disposed housing, a mounting bracket, and a carrying handle above said bracket, said bracket land handle projecting laterally from said housing in substantially the same direction, and a carrier comprising a pair of brackets attachable to each other and embraceably engaging the housing below the mount-ing bracket, means detachably securing said pair of brackets together to mount the same on the housing and ground engageable support means secured to each of said brackets and extending downwardly beyond the lower end of the motor and including a portion projecting laterally of the motor housing in the same direction as the mounting bracket.

9. iIn combination, an outboard motor having a normally substantially vertically disposed housing, a mounting bracket at the front of the housing and a carrying handle Iabove said mounting bracket and at the front of the housing, and a carrier comprising a pair of brackets attachable to each other and embraceably eng-aging the housing below said mounting bracket, means detachably securing said pair of brackets together to mount the same on the motor housing and ground engageable support means secured to each of said brackets having a portion thereof extending downwardly beyond the lower end of the motor housing and a portion thereof extending forwardly of and so oriented to the motor housing as to support the motor in forwardly tilted position while the motor is being mounted to a support at said bracket.

10. lIn, combination, an outboard 'motor havi'nig, a'ri integrally disposed exhaust stackpat its lower end either in` a rest position or in a traveling portion for transport overthe ground, and a carrier comprising ground eilg-ageable wheel means, brackets secured to s"aid wheel means, means detachably securing said brackets together to embracin'gly engage a portion of the motor to spport the same in traveling position and means removably attachable to the motor spaced from said Wheel means to cooperate therewith to provide a tripod support laterally of and projecting below the motor in rest position, said last named means comprising a rod having its upper end mounted in the exhaust stack 'of the motor and releasable clamp means mounted 4on said rod interme- 8 diate its ends andengaging a portion of the motor to retain said rod in the exhaust stack.

References Cited in the of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,463 Lathrop Api.` 1 7, i934 2,335,579 Chamberlin !Nov. 30, 1943 2,629,609 Wilson Feb, 24, 195,3 2,711,152 McGregor June 21, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS l I v l L u' 465,851 Germany Sept. 27, 1928 

